Centrifugal amalgamator.



A. J. ANDERSON.

CENTR IFUGAL AMALGAMATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 1917.

1 ,284,963 I, Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

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E 11 i. m i /0 A. J. ANDERSON. CEN TRIFUGAL AM'ALGAMATOR. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1917.

Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

2 SHELT\SHEET 2 ALBERT J.-'ANDERSON, OF SOUTH PASADENA, CALIFORNIA.

CENTRIFUGAL AMALGAMATOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented Nov. 19, 1918.

Application filed June 7, 1917. Serial No. 173,416.

To all whom it may concern:

lie it known that I, ALBERT J. ANDERSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at South Pasadena, in the county of Los Angeles. State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Amalgamators. of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to centrifugal machines for amalgamating ores; and it is a general object of this invention to provide a centrifugal amalgamator of high efficiency.

There are several objects of this invention, among which I may particularly mention the provision of means for causing an equable distribution of the amalgamating mercury, and for conserving the mercury; and the provision of means whereby the rotational vibrations of the machine are not imposed on the bearings thereof. There are further objects and features of the invention, as will appear hereinafter; including several features of structure.

It has heretofore been proposed to centrifugally induce a flow of liquid pulp over a centrifugally distributed body of mercury in machines that are rotated at high speed. Such machines have usually passed the pulp downwardly or outwardly over the distributed mercury; in my present machine I pass the pulp upwardly over the distributed mercury. It has also been common to mount the rotating machine in bearings, either horizontal or vertical; and these bearings must necessarily bear the large strains due to rotational vibration caused by unbalanced masses. Consequently, in such a machine, it has always been necessary to very nicely balance the rotating parts; and, even then, an unequal distribution of the pulp or mercury will cause vibration. I provide a construction which, although it is capable of being easily balancedto a fine degree, does not have to be so very finely balanced be cause I provide an arrangement whereby the rotational vibration stresses are almost entirely removed from the bearings.

For the purpose of indicating my invention and typifying the machines that are included within its scope, I now proceed to a detailed description of typical specific forms of machines, referring for this purpose to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a central vertical longitudinal section of one form of machine;

Figs. 2 and 3 are half size cross sections taken as indicated on Fig. 1 by lines 22 and 33, respectively; Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a central vertical longitudinal section of another form of machine; and Figs. 6 and 7 are half size-cross sections taken as indicated on Fig. 4 by lines 66 and 7-7, respectively.

I refer first to Figs 1, 2 and 3 wherein I show a typical form of machine. In these figures the numeral 10 designates a suitable head frame which carries a feed pipe 11 in a clamp 12in the upper part of the frame. This feed pipe 11 projects downwardly and is joined by stufling box 13 with a rotating tube 14. Rotating tube 14 is mounted in suitable bearings; as for instance, an endthrust ball bearing 15 and anannular ball bearing 16. The annular ball bearing 16 is placed close to the driving pulley 17; and another annular ball bearing 18 is directly below the driving pulley. The shaft formed by the rotating tube 14 is thus properly supported in a pair of annular ball bearings and also properly supported vertically by the end-thrust ballbearing 15. The stufling box 13 may comprise an exterior element 19 set upon the upper end of the rotating tube shaft 14 and surrounding the cup leathers 20 which are mounted upon the feed pipe 11. These cup leathers face downwardly to prevent outward flow of the pulp. This stuffing box arrangement is similar to that described and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 164,400, filed April 25, 1917.

The tube shaft 14 carries at its lower end a universal joint 25 preferably in the form of a ball and socket joint embodying the twopiece socket 26 carried upon the lower end of the tube 14 and the ball 27 housed in said socket. Driving pins 28 are mounted in the ball and play in slots 29 in the socket, causing the ball to be driven with the socket, and at the same time allowing the ball to have proper relative universal movement with relation to the socket. A feed sleeve 30 depends from the ball 27, and a fluid passage 31 extends through the ball and through the sleeve 30 in continuation of the passage through the tube 14. At its lower end the feed sleeve 80 connects with the head member 35 of the rotating centrifugal amalgamating structure 36. This structure comprises essentially the head member 35 and two bottom members 37 and 38 and preferably three concentric tubes forming tubular walls 39, 40 and 41. These tubular walls inclose within and between them the annular spaces or passages 42 and 43. An inner central tube 50 extends between the upper head member 35 and the lower head member 37; and the 'uncture of this tube 50 with each of the hea members 35 and 37 may be permanent; the head members may be forced onto the tube 50. The inner tubular wall 39 extends also between these two members and its juncture with these two members may also be permanent. 40 is permanently joined with the lower head 38 but is removably joined with the upper head 35, suitable packing being provided at 51 to make a tight joint between the tube 50 and the annular interior part 52 of the head 35. This annular interior part 52 may be supported from the body of the head by suitable ribs or the like 53; and the head 35 and the portions 52 are so formed as to form a curved annular liquid passage 54 which extends upwardly and inwardly from the passage 42 between the tubular walls 39 and 40 and then extends in a curve outwardly and over and down and connects with the passage 43 between the two tubular walls 40 and 41.

The lower end of the intermediate tubular wall 40 is permanently joined with the lower head 38; while the lower end of the outermost tubular wall 41 is permanently connected into a ring or flange 55. This ring or flange 55 fits around the lower head 38, packing being provided at 56 to make a tight joint. The whole arrangement is such that the lower head 38 and the intermediate tube 40 may be withdrawn in order to gain access to the interior of the machine. Between the two lower heads 37 and 38 I form an annular curved passage 60 which leads downwardly from the passage 61 at the lower end of central tube 50, and leads outwardly and then upwardly into the lower ends of annular passage 42. In order to more perfectly center the different parts of the device, and center the two heads 37 and 38 with respect to each other, I provide a centering spider at 62 which fits up into the lower head 37 and is held on a pin 63 in the lowermost head 38.

An annular passage connects with the lower end of the annular passage 43; and this annular passage 70 leads to discharge nozzles 71 which are preferably shaped somewhat as illustrated in Fig. 3, the direction of rotation being as indicated in that figure. These nozzles have the effect of throwing the pulp outwardly by centrifugal action,

" thus drawing the fluid through the' various passages of the device. This matter is set forth and claimed in my said co-pending application. Of course, a pump or other The intermediate tubemercury may be inserted at a plug opening as indicated at 76 in the upper part of the machine. When the machine is in operation the mercury is thrown outwardly through the passage 60 and into the passage 42 and is distributed over the wall 40 between the upper and lower horizontal shoulders 77 and 78. A trunnion 80 projects centrally below the lowermost head 38 and stands in an opening 81 in member 82 which may be supported in any suitable manner, as by being secured in the catch pan 83. This catch pan is more fully shown in Fig. 5. The function of the member 82 is to restrict the oscillations of the centrifugal machine 36 about its point of universal support when it is starting or slowing down.

When the machine is in full operation, the pulp moves downwardly from the feed pipe 11 through the tube 14 and then around and outwardly through the bottom passage, then up through the annular amalgamating passage, then down through the outer annular passage; finally passing out through the nozzles.

It will be particularly noted that the parts of my machine which are suspend ed from the universal joint'are capable of being easily and finely balanced. The tubular walls 39, 40 and 41 may be made of wrought iron or steel tubing or pipe turned inside and out: and the heads35, 37 and 38 and the member 55 are of such shape as to be capable of being turned on almost all of their surfaces. However, although my machine may be thus very finely balanced, I do notv find it necessary to so finely balance. it as is necessary in machines where the rotating parts are carried rigidly in bearings. It has been explained how the working parts of the machine are suspended from the universal joint 25. When the machine is in full operation, the speed of rotation is so high that any small lack of balance in the rotating parts does not cause any appreciable gyration of those parts. When the machine is starting up or slowing down, a lack of balance may cause a little gyration; and this gyration is limited by the member 82 and the trunnion 80; but after the machine has reached full speed, then the gyrations, if there are any, are reduced to practically nothing. This is true even should the pulp flow somewhat unevenly. The larger part of the weight of the machine and of the parts is carried at a distance from the universal joint; so that a very small strain is put upon the universal joint;

and therefore a very small strain is ut upon wardly extending flange 90 which catches the jets projecting outwardly from the nozzles 71 and turns the stream downwardly in the pan. The bottom of the pan is constructed as shown in Fig. 5 with an outlet pipe in its center at 91 projecting above the bottom of the pan. The pan has a bottom portion 92 lower than pipe 91; and this bottom portion 92 is designedas a trap to catch any mercury or amalgam which might possibly escape from the device; and means are provided at 93 for flushing the bottom portion 92 of the pan to remove any collections therein. p

Also in 'Fig. 5 I have shown a modified form of structure which has structure 36 essentially the same as that shown in Fig. l excepting that I utilize only the two tubular walls 39 and 40 with the single annular passage 42 between them, through which the pulp flows upwardly over the mercury which is spread over the inner surface of the outer wall 40. The passage 54 in this case leads upwardly and inwardly from the upper end of the annular assage 42 and leads directly to the nozzles 71* which, in this case, are constructed in the upper head 35. In this case the two tubes 39 and 40 are permanently joined with the two lower heads 37 and 38; and the tube 39 is permanently joined at its upper end with the head 35; while the tube 40 is permanently joined at its upper end with a ring 95 and this ring 95 may be held to the upper head 35'by bolts 96; a gasket being provided at 97 between the ring and the upper head to make a liquid tight joint. The only essential difference, outside of detailed difl'erences of structure, between the two forms herein described is that the form of Fig. 5 lacks the final downward passage 43. This final downward passage 43 in Fig. 1, with its lower horizontal shoulder at 98, serves to catch any mercury or amalgam that might escape from passage 42. And this exterior passage 43 also serves as an amalgamating passage if any mercury is held therein. Any mercury in passage 43 will be throwno'ut when the machine slows down; and this may be saved by cutting oil the sup ply of pulp before slowing the machine and then allowing the mercury to run out of passage 43'into the pan 83, or into a special pan provided for that purpose.

I have described the tubular walls as being cylindrical; but this is not necessarily the case. 'They may be, as varying conditions demand, somewhat tapering either up or down. Such changes and variations, and

others as will appear to those skilled in the pendin application S. N. 104,400 filed April i 25, 191?. Wherever this present application sets forth matter shown in said prior application, that matteris not claimed herein.

Havin described apreferred form of my device, claim: Y

1. A centrifugal amalgamator embodying a vertical driving shaft, a rotating casing suspended therefromand rotatably connect ed thereto by universal connection, allowing the casing to freely gyrate while rotating, the casing having circular mercury holding parts and fluid passages therethrough through which a fluid may be impelled by centrifugation, and a mobile body of liquid mercur in said mercury holding parts.

2. A centrifugal amalgamator embodying a vertical driving shaft, a vertical rotating casing suspended therefrom and rotatably connected thereto by universal connection, allowing the casing to freely gyrate while rotating, there being a fluid inlet passage through the driving shaft, a fluid passage in the casing communicating with the inlet passage, parts of said passage being designed to hold mercury, a mobile body of liquid mercury in said parts, and centrifugal impeller nozzles at the discharge ends of the fluid passage to cause fluid to be centrifugally impelled through the passage.

3. A centrifugal amalgamator embodying a vertical driving shaft, a rotating casing supported therefrom and rotatably connected thereto by universal connection, allowing the casing tofreely gyrate while rotating, the casing having fluid passages therethrough through which a'fluid may be impelled by centrifugation, said fluid passages having one part with a substantially cylindrical outer wall and with inwardly projecting annular shoulders .at the upper and lower ends of the wall to limit the distribution of a charge of mercury which is distributed by centrifugation over said wall; I

4. A centrifugal amalgamator embodying a vertical driving shaft, a vertical rotating casing suspended therefrom and rotatably connected thereto by universal connection,

and lower ends of the wall to limit the dis tribution of a charge of mercury which is distributed by centrifugation over said wall.

5. A centrifugal amalgamator embodying a vertical driving shaft a rotating casing supported therefrom and rotatably connected thereto by universal connection, allowing the casing to freely gyrate while rotating, the casing having fluid passages therethrough through which a fluid may be impelled by centrifugation, said fluid passages having one part with a substantially cylindrical outer wall and with inwardly projecting annular shoulders at the upper and lower ends of the wall, a mobile body of liquid mercury which is distributed by centrifugation over said wall between said shoulders, said mercury distributive wall being in a portion of the fluid passage where the fluid travels upwardly.

6. A centrifugal amalgalnator embodyin an upright casing rotating about a vertica axis, supporting and driving means for the casing embodying a universal suspension means, whereby the casing is allowed to pendulously gyrate while rotating, the casing having passages through which fluid may flow and said passages having circular mercury holding parts, and a mobile body of liquid mercury in said part. 4

7. A centrifugal amalgamator embodying a hollow vertical driving shaft, a vertical rotatin casing suspended therefrom and rotatab y connected thereto by universal connection, whereby the casing is allowed to pendulously gyrate while rotating, a central tube in the casing communicating at its upper end with the hollow shaft, an annular fluid passage in the casing surrounding the central tube and communicating therewith,

parts of said annular passage adapted to hold a charge of mercury, and a mobile body of liquid mercury in said part.

8. A centrifugal amalgamator embodying a hollow vertical driving shaft, a vertical rotating casing suspended therefrom and rotatablv connected thereto by universal connection, whereby the casing is allowed to pendulously gyrate while rotating, a central tube in the casing communicating at its upper end with the hollow shaft, an annular fluid passage in the casing surrounding the central tube and communicating therewith, parts of said annular passage adapted to hold a charge of mercury, and a mobile body of liquid mercury in said part, the tube and passage communicatin at their lower ends, so that the fluid whic is fed into the hollow shaft passes down through the tube and then up through the annularpassage.

9. A centrifugal .amalgamator embodying a rotating element comprising a central feed tube, head structures at opposite ends of the tube, a plurality of concentric cylindrical tubes mounted between the head structures mac and inclosing between them an annular fluid passage. one of the head structures having a passage therein communicating with the feed tube and leading to one end of the annular passage, and the other head structure having a passage leading from the other end of the annular passage.

10. A centrifugal amalgamator embodyinga rotating element comprising a central feed tube, head structures at opposite ends of the tube, a plurality of concentric cylindrical tubes mounted between the head structures and inclosing between them an annular fluid passage. one of the head structures having a passage therein communicating with the feed tube and leading to one end of the annular passage, and the other head structure having a passage leading from the other end of the annular passage, and one of the heads having centrifugal discharge nozzles in communication with said last mentioned passage.

11. A centrifugal amalgamator, embodying a rotating element comprising a central feed tube, a head at one end of the feed tube, a lower head structure at the other end of the tube embodying an inner and an outer head separable from each other and spaced apart to form a passage leading outwardly from the central feed tube, a pair of concentric cylindrical tubes mounted one between the first mentioned head at one end and the inner head at the other end and the other mounted between the first mentioned head at one end and the other head of the lower head structure at the other end, said tubes inclosing between them an annular fluid passage which communicates at one end with the passage between the inner'and outer heads, and the first mentioned head having a passage leading from the other end of the annular passage.

12. A centrifugal amalgamator, embodying a rotating element comprising a central feed tube, a head at one end of the tube, a

head structure at the other end of the tube cm bodyingan inner and an outer head spaced apart to form a passage leading outwar ly from the central feed tube, three-concentric cylindrical tubes mounted between the first mentioned head at one end and the head structure at the other end and inclosing between them two concentric annular fluid passages the inner one, of which communicates at one end with the passage between' the inner and outer heads, the first mentioned head having a passage leading from the other end of the inner annular passage to the adjacent end of the outer annular passage, both the annular pas-sages having in their outer walls mercury retaining shoulders.

13. A centrifugal amalgamator, embodying a rotating element comprising a central feed tube, a head at one end of the tube, a head structure at the other end of the tube 1 names embodying an inner and an outer head spaced apart to form a passage leading outwardly from the central feed tube, three concentric cylindrical tubes mounted between the first mentioned head at one end and the head structure at the other end and inclosing between them two concentric annular fluid passages the inner one of which communicates at one end with the passage between the inner and outer heads, the first mentioned head having a passage leading from the other end of the inner annular passage to the adjacent end of the outer annular passage, both the annular passages having in their outer Walls mercury retaining shoulders, and the passage in the first mentioned head ext-ending inwardly from the inner annular passage and then outwardly to the outer annular passage.

In Witness thatl claim the foregoing ll have hereunto subscribed my name this 21st day of May 1917.

ALBERT J. ANDERSUN. 

